This variety of Wyandotte is relatively new and came to the United States from England a short time ago. We were able to get our stock from an outstanding breeder here in the states prior to his "closing the door" on this variety and feel fortunate to perpetuate the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte gene pool. The original development of these came from crossing Silver Laced and Golden Laced varieties of Wyandotte's. After much work the Blue Laced Red was developed from this cross. The blue gene will color the chicks either light blue or dark blue in the lacing (the area around the reddish colored feathers) in both the baby chicks and the mature birds. Therefore you may have birds that vary somewhat in appearance but still display the beautiful colors of this very rare and unusual chick. Mature Blue Laced Red Wyandotte's lay brown eggs and are medium in size with the deep - round -Wyandotte appearance.

But, actually, that tells how they were created and you could maybe apply that to Orps. The problem is that we dont have silver laced and gold laced Orpingtons (in this country)readily available to breed together, like they did the Wyandottes, then work on the product till perfected.

steffpeck,
Definately you need a blue laced red Wyandotte and put him over orpington hens. Either buff, white or black orpington hens or all three of those colors to start. You will have to do some genetic research which color is most feasable, maybe someone will tell you on your post. Then the F1 would be bred together and pick the best chicks that resemble the color closest and the orpington traits. Very good project to start. Good luck. HS

A SL Orpington roo over a BLRW would produce BLR females, but the males would be all sorts of colors. I don't really know anything about the genetics of Orpingtons to know if the resulting BLR cross would be clean or not, meaning if there would be things like double lacing, lancing, or Andalusian lacing (most probably on this).

Also, the Murray McMurray explanation is a bit misleading...you have to have the blue gene present to produce the blue lacing. It doesn't explain what was used to get the blue coloring.